Stay for boots or shoes



' (No Model.)

W. A. NE.ELY.- STAY FOR BOOTS 0R SHOES.

No. 449,167. Patented Mar. 31,1891.

m: mums IETERS 120., mionruwm, wmlmmn, o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM A. NEELY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAY FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 449,167, dated March 31, 1891.

Application filed July 7, 1890. Serial No. 357,965. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. NEELY, of Lynn, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in Stays for Boots or Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In another application, Serial N 0. 349,609, filed April 26, 1890, a stay for boots, shoes, and other articles is shown, having a convex outer face or top and a longitudinal groove at the center to receive and protect the stitches.

This stay is made of sole-leather, and to form the convex top it must be cut away, thereby presenting the interior or flesh portion of the leather for a wearing-surface.

This invention has for its object to construct this form of stay in such a manner that it shall present the hair or grain side of the leather for a wearing-surface.

In carrying out this invention I take a strip of leather and so cut or form it as to present a central longitudinal core with two thin edges one at each side of the said core which constitute facings, and are adapted to be wrapped around the said core and secured thereto, if desired. The core is preferably formed substantially semicircular in crosssection to present a convex face, which is covered by the said thin edges or facings.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a stay embodying this invention; Fig. 2, an end view of a strip of leather, from which the stay herein shown may be cut or formed; Fig. 3, an end view of a strip of leather, the under side portion being removed to leave the central longitudinal core with thin edges or facings; and Fig. 4 an end view of the stay shown in Fig. 3, with the thin edges or facin gs wrapped around the core to cover it.

The strip of leather shown in Fig.2 and substantially rectangular in cross-section is cut away at each side, as at a l), to leave a central longitudinal core 0, substantially semicircular in cross-section and having at its top and extending in opposite directions at each side thereof a thin facing or edge, as d. These thin edges or facings d dare wrapped around the core 0 to serve as a covering therefor, and,

by which the stay is attached to the boot or shoe.

I do not desire to limit my invention to any particular method of forming this stay.

I claim 1. The stay herein described, consisting of a central longitudinal core with a convex outer face, a central stitch-receiving groove, and thin edges or faces formed integral with the core and adapted as a covering for it.

2. The stay herein described, consisting of a core having a stitch-receiving groove and thin facings adapted to be wrapped around and serve as a covering for the core, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. NEELY. Witnesses:

BERNIOE J. N oYEs, EMMA J. BENNETT.

These facings give a finish as well 55 

